The physics module consists of 11 hours of lectures and 5 hours of small-group exercises.

The lectures

Vector theory

  • Vector magnitude: definition and representations (geometric and algebraic)
  • Composition of vectors from their geometric representation
  • Algebraic representation of a vector
  • Composition of vectors from their algebraic representation
  • Use of vectors in physics - Example of the translational equilibrium of a body subjected to several forces.

Kinematics

  • The fundamental quantities of kinematics
    • The position vector and the law of spaces
      • The velocity vector and the law of velocities
    • The acceleration vector and the law of accelerations
  • Analysis of a few simple simple motions
    • Uniform rectilinear motion - MRU
    • Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion - MRUA
    • The falling des corps
    • Composition d'un MRU et d'un MRUA
    • Exercises

    • Dynamics

    • Objectif - notion of force - measurement of a force
    • Forces
      • Universal gravitation
      • Weight
        • Elastic force
      • Frictional force
  • La Newton's 1st law (principle of inertia) and some applications
  • Newton's 2nd law
    • Mass
    • Applications of Newton's 2nd law : satellite motion, motion on an inclined plane, parabolic flight
  • Newton's 3rd law (action-reaction principle) and some applications.

    • Electrostatics

    • Electric charge
    • The force between two point charges: Coulomb's dormouse and the electric field
    • Applications: calculating the field produced by point charges
    • Continuous distribution of charges: field created by a straight, infinitely long, uniformly charged wire (use of the integral)
    • The electric potential
      • The scalar product
      • The work of a force
      • The potential created by a point charge and the physical direction of the potential

    The exercises

    The exercises are carried out in small groups with the help of an assistant.

    They focus mainly on vector calculus and kinematics. These two subjects also provide an opportunity to review a few essential mathematical tools for tackling a physics course: trigonometry and the derivative.